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ABS Regionals by Zoe Steinberg

January 17, 2011 -
Zoe Steinberg

This Saturday I went down to Philly to compete in the 2011 ABS Regional Championships, and try to qualify for Nationals later in the winter in Boulder, CO. I got down the night before, and spent some time at dinner and our hotel with my friends from Jersey, Alex Coda, Amir Ansari, and Charlie Schreiber. We hung out with some other climbers at the hotel, then got to sleep.

We woke up early the next morning to get ready to go to the gym early. We got to the Philadelphia Rock Gym around 8, and started climbing at 9. The problems were fun, and after climbing for three hours in the redpoint qualifier I was in first going into finals. I placed first in finals, but didn't feel I had climbed my best. That was ok though, since I was going to compete in the open part of the comp later. I ended up placing first with an invite to nationals. A lot of my friends made it to nationals as well, including Alex, Charlie, and Amir, as well as Nick Picarella, Solomon Barth, Jesse Grupper, Ashima Shiraishi, and Faith Sullivan. I messed around in the gym with some friends, until I had to go back into iso for finals.

I was placed in second going into finals, so I was going out pretty far back in the running order. I got out, and sent the first problem second go, a pretty cool arete climb. I jumped on the next climb after, which was my style and an amazing climb, then the third. I didn't send either, but they were both really fun! I kept second place, with first going to Sasha DiGiulian, who did an awesome job. Nick Picarella also climbed great, getting fifth in the really stacked mens category.

I headed back to New Jersey the next day, and am psyched on training for nationals now! Congrats to everyone at the comp, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at nationals. Thanks to everyone who helped out at the comp and the routesetters for putting on a great event. Also, thanks to 5.10 for the awesome shoes!